The stepfather of 17-year-old Philip Gbarato has every reason to feel there is something wrong with our legal system.

This teenager is said to be out of control and his family have tried to help him through social workers, psychologists and parenting courses. But now they are at the end of their tether.

And stepdad Anthony Cartwright has gone as far as begging the courts to lock him up for his own good.

Yet despite the teenager apparently being warned that next time he came before court he would be jailed he has been given a community rehabilitation order - and this has left his mother in tears.

Mr Cartwright says his stepson thinks he is above the law. He says he has already removed electronic tags, and is putting his wife and himself through a nightmare.

Clearly the courts cannot act on the pleas of individuals. But this couple feel they are the ones being punished. Someone, somewhere must take action that changes this lad's behaviour - or prevents it.